Denver Broncos 35, San Diego Chargers 24
In the most important divisional match up the AFC West has seen thus far this season, fans who paid admission received two games for the price of one: a first half that saw the Chargers jump out to a 24-0 lead, fueled by three Bronco turnovers and a second half in which Denver outscored San Diego 35-0, thanks in large part five San Diego giveaways.
The net effect was a critical win for the Broncos who go into their bye week with a 3-3 record and a share of the AFC West lead to go along with a 2-0 divisional mark, which now includes a road victory (and early tie breaker) over the Chargers. Denver’s hopes of getting out to a fast start for the first time on the road this season didn’t exactly come to fruition, as they found themselves in an early 10-0 hole following two special teams miscues: a muffed punt by recent acquisition Trindon Holliday and a lost fumble on a kickoff return by rookie Omar Bolden.
The Broncos appeared to be on their way to reducing the Charger lead, having marched 69 yards on six plays into the San Diego red zone. However, the game took what was potentially a 14-point swing when an apparent miscommunication between Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and reserve receiver Matthew Willis resulted in an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown by Quinton Jammer, opening up a 17-0 San Diego lead. The Chargers extended their advantage to 24-0 when Antonio Gates caught his second touchdown pass of the evening with just :24 remaining in the second quarter.
Down 24 at the half, the Broncos took the opening possession of the second half 85 yards on eight plays, culminating on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Manning to Demaryius Thomas. With a still-sizable deficit to overcome, Denver got the big play they had been seeking for much of the year with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Elvis Dumervil, who has been largely absent through much of the season’s first five games, sacked Philip Rivers and forced a fumble that was returned 65 yards by cornerback Tony Carter to cut the San Diego lead to 10.
From that point forward, Rivers imploded, throwing three more interceptions (one of which was returned by Chris Harris for a punctuating touchdown) and losing a fumble on the Chargers final offensive play of the game. Rivers finished the night 25-of-41, throwing for two touchdowns and four interceptions to go along with two lost fumbles. Manning threw for more than 300 yards for the fourth consecutive game, finishing with 309 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38, Kansas City Chiefs 10
A game that appeared to be very winnable for Kansas City proved to be anything but. Following a week where the Chiefs held the otherwise impressive Ravens offense to just three field goals, KC’s defensive mojo evidently missed the flight to Florida. Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman completed 15-of-26 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Mike Williams for a 62-yard score and hitting Vincent Jackson for another two.
A KC interception of a Freeman pass, along with a Buccaneer missed field goal kept things close over the game’s first 30 minutes, as Tampa Bay held just a 7-3 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Bucs took the opening drive of the third quarter 80 yards on just four plays to open up a 14-3 lead. The Chiefs moved the ball effectively on their ensuing possession. However, quarterback Brady Quinn was intercepted by Ronde Barber who returned the pick 78 yards for a touchdown, extending the Tampa Bay lead to 18.
Kansas City’s lone touchdown came early in the fourth quarter when Shaun Draughn blocked a Michael Koenen punt and Edgar Jones ran a subsequent Koenen fumble (after he attempted to corral the blocked kick) into the end zone. The day was fruitless for the Chiefs offensively. Quinn, getting just his 13th start as a pro in place of injured starter Matt Cassel, threw for only 180 yards and was intercepted twice. Jamaal Charles, the NFL’s leading rusher coming into the weekend, was held to just 40 yards on 12 carries.
The Chiefs, who dropped to 1-5 with the loss, have yet to hold a lead in regulation this season, their only win coming in overtime in New Orleans after trailing for the entire game. Tampa Bay improved to 2-3 as they attempt to fight their way back into the mix in the NFC South, where the undefeated Falcons hold a sizable lead over the rest of the division.
Atlanta Falcons 23, Oakland Raiders 20
This match up between the unbeaten Falcons and the one-win Raiders turned out to be anything but the foregone conclusion most expected. The final step in Atlanta’s four-game victory tour against the AFC West this season ultimately culminated as expected, but not before some uneasy moments at the Georgia Dome.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was uncharacteristically careless with the ball in a first half that saw three of his passes intercepted, leading to 10 Oakland points. Atlanta’s offense managed an 80-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, giving them a 7-3 lead. Otherwise, they produced a missed field goal, a punt, and the aforementioned three turnovers during an extremely sloppy first two quarters.
The Raiders didn’t exactly prove to be guardians of the rock either, as they lost two fumbles and had a Carson Palmer pass intercepted, the latter of which was returned 79 yards by Asante Samuel to give Atlanta a 20-13 lead with 2:40 remaining in regulation. Give a struggling Oakland team credit, however, as they overcame what should have been a proverbial nail in the coffin by driving 80 yards on eight plays to score a touchdown that tied the game at 20.
The Raiders were perhaps a bit too efficient in moving down the field, leaving 40 seconds on the clock for the Falcons to respond. And respond they did, marching the ball 43 yards in six plays, setting up a 55-yard Matt Bryant field goal that gave Atlanta the win and the only perfect record in the NFL through six weeks.